How much is enough?

I would like to take a moment to respond to Stan Collins of Lakewood regarding his sequestration comments.

I am one of the civil servants that he is referring to. I am a taxpayer as well. As it currently stands, we are being mandatorily and involuntarily furloughed for a total of 14 days this fiscal year, resulting in a 20 percent reduction in pay during the furlough period. Let’s assume for the sake of argument that I was also willing to work one day a week pro bono. Now I would be leading the way, right? Who’s going to follow me?

When can the IRS expect a check for 20 percent of Mr. Collins’ salary? Put up or shut up!

Ken Hinkle, Aurora

This letter was published in the April 13 edition.

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Mr. Hinkle assumes that Mr. Collins, like many who work in the private sector, DIDN’T take a pay cut or were assessed “furlough” days. Some have taken a 100 percent hit, as in losing their jobs entirely. There’s been a fair amount of that going around.

#2 Comment By SL On April 12, 2013 @ 9:11 pm

As a civil servant myself (state level), I echo Mr. Hinkle’s comments. Shared sacrifice only works if it’s shared. Expecting public employees to shoulder all the burden for Congress’ failure to act responsibly on a budget is unfair and unacceptable. Instead of attacking each other, maybe we could focus our energies where they might do the most good–letting our representatives know we expect more fiscal bang for our electoral buck.

#3 Comment By Fowler On April 12, 2013 @ 10:54 pm

So is Ken getting a pay cut, or just being told not to show up for work and getting the same pay? Sounds like paid vacation to me.

#4 Comment By peterpi On April 13, 2013 @ 12:33 am

You must have skipped reading comprehension in elementary school:
“we are being mandatorily and involuntarily furloughed for a total of 14 days this fiscal year, resulting in a 20 percent reduction in pay during the furlough period”
But all public employees are just lazy bums sponging off the taxpayers, right, Fowler?

#5 Comment By peterpi On April 13, 2013 @ 12:37 am

Mr. Collins wants something for nothing. Mr. Collins wants government employees to take the lead, which I presume means Mr. Collins wants to be a follower … later.

#6 Comment By Old Enough On April 13, 2013 @ 7:57 am

Your post is illogical. Mr. Hinkle is NOT getting paid for furlough days.

#7 Comment By Stephen Blecher On April 13, 2013 @ 8:47 am

Talking about sequester, nobody is taking about repatriating the billions and perhaps trillions that the fat cats have sequestered offshore.

#8 Comment By StillUndecided On April 13, 2013 @ 11:23 am

Um… Mr. Hinkle,
I’m pretty sure that the IRS already gets a percentage of Mr. Collins salary. Depending on what he makes, it might be even more than 20%.

#9 Comment By StillUndecided On April 13, 2013 @ 11:30 am

The way that I do the math, 14/(2080/8), this figures out to a 5% reduction in total compensation based on working fewer total hours at the same level of pay. There may be some WEEKS where the affected employees work 20% fewer hours, but it is disingenuous to call this a 20% pay reduction.

#10 Comment By SL On April 13, 2013 @ 2:31 pm

Regardless of his tax rate, Mr. Collins is not being asked (nor is he volunteering) to take an additional cut to balance the budget. Public employees pay the same tax rate on their income as everyone else.

#11 Comment By The Terminator On April 14, 2013 @ 4:11 pm

Maybe he was only counting the actual time he works each year?

#12 Comment By peterpi On April 14, 2013 @ 4:37 pm

Because for you, no government worker EVER puts in a full day’s work, EVER is conscientious and hard-working, right?
I hear Somalia has no effective government, no bureaucracies or bureaucrats, and freedom and plenty for all — provided you have enough wealth and enough arms or armed men.